BCC Awarded Early Education Grant

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Commonwealth's Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has awarded Berkshire Community College a Career Pathways Grant totaling $257,331 for the 2022 fiscal year. 
 
The grant funds tuition, fees and support for those pursuing a degree in higher education while working in the field of early education and care.  
 
The grant is designed to reduce barriers to enrollment and completion by providing coherent and stackable courses for credentialing and degree attainment. It also addresses challenges in the early education field, including certified staffing shortages. 
 
Funding supports: 
  • Educator enrollment and retention 
  • Completion of courses, certificates and degrees 
  • Smooth transfer for students who choose to continue their education at a four-year university. 
 
"This grant changes lives through coursework and through transferable skills that impact the whole person. We have seen students achieve their academic, professional and personal dreams because of the help these funds provided," said Alicia Ginsberg, Early Childhood Career Pathway Grant Coordinator at BCC. "Their growth is truly inspiring." 
 
Recipients of grant funds at BCC have earned teacher certification, lead teacher certification and director certification.  
 
The EEC Career Pathways Grant has supported early childhood educators at BCC since 2019. In just three years, the grant has supported 160 students who completed a total of 1,269 credits. 

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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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